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This web post is part of the story 2021 Zambian player of the year power ranking. Tsutra, Shite, Mayuka and Sautu drop from the list
With less than ten games before the close of the season, the race to player of the year gets even exciting and so many changes from the first power rankings we did the mid-way the season.
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Lusaka Dynamoes bagged the ABSA cup while ZESCO look set to win the league but who wins the player of the year? Here are the latest power rankings.
10. ENOCK SAKALA Jnr( ZESCO united)
At six goals, Sakala leads the race to the young player of the year award which I will do tomorrow, and the towering Zesco forward and country’s revelation of the year closes the list of this prestigious list. The young forward has brought the opulence and mind-blowing variety in the Zesco attacking third which the team didn’t have last season. He possesses some demon awareness in the box and his striking power is explosive.
9. ZIYO TEMBO (Zanaco)
The fabrics of the ZANACO defence has never crumbled and the very reason the 2018 Zambian footballer of the year powers himself to 9th in these power rankings. ZANACO has been solid at the back despite holes in their goal keeping department and Ziyo Tembo has been rock solid in their last line of defence to say the list.
8. MAGABANISO MAGENGE (Lusaka Dynamos)
On number 8 was Sutra Tshimenga whose unmatched work rate and deft powered Nkana into the group stage of the CAF confederation cup but he has failed to replicate his exploits as Nkana rolls down the drain into the cellars of the Table.
He paves way for Magabaniso Magenge. The Lusaka Dynamos center back was the brick force wire behind the Elite’s solid display to ABSA glory. Magenge’s positivity has not only been infectious but the reason Lusaka Dynamoes boasts of the most solid defence in the league.
7. MWACHIYABA AKAKULUBELWA ( Kabwe Warriors)
His trademark celebration of speaking to some imaginable watch on his wrist speaks everything. It’s his time and Akakulubelwa is surely ripe but after crashing out of the ABSA cup and a finish in the top four hanging by the thread, the player of the year crown looks a bit far-fetched for Mwachiyaba. He ranks 7th.
6. MPHO MATEKGANE (Forest Rangers)
Some deft first touch, multi-million dollar turns and pin point ball distribution skills summarises the quality in Mpho. He has been the deadly roar and killer claws in the forest and his quality on the ball going foward is unmatched. He takes the place of Shite Mweshi whose Prison Leopards has fallen short of glory and Mweshi drops from the list.
5. FRIDAY SAMU (Green Buffaloes)
We had Emmanuel Mayuka on number five in the mid season power rankings but the 2012 AFCON gold medalist has not been in action since and his journey seems to have come to a barbed end. A face that was no where near these rankings powers up to number 5: Friday Samu. The Green Buffaloes towering center foward has been in ruthless form scoring ten goals and single handedly carrying Buffaloes out of the relegation Zone.
- JAMES CHAMANGA (Red Arrows)
In fourth position is James Chamanga. Chamanga has been the lifeline of an Arrows team that has been average to say the least, while he has been exeptional, its his team that keeps taking every life out of him.
He has 6 goals to his name and with any title hopes for Red Arrows far beyond there reach, he can only rank fourth.
3. KOLA QUADRI ( Forest Rangers)
Forest Rangers could only watch their treasure chest burn as the Buffaloes championed and bossed the Forest yesterday and to mention a Forest Rangers player in the race to player of the season after that uppercut from the wounded Buffaloes sounds so wrong but Quadri Kola has been exquisite in the Rangers attacking third, he has powered in a staggering 8 goals hitherto and this is a milestone for a player who is not a center forward.
2. KOLA RODGERS (Zanaco)
Down to number one and our projection of who wins the price mid-way, the season was Kola but he loses some grip and moves to second. His positioning, anticipation, aerial dominance, and ability to fire from any angle with surgical precision sets him a cut above everyone and he perches on top of the copper chart with a staggering 11 goals, the same number of goals his partner in crime Moses Phiri has scored.
By statistical feasibility grounded on ZANACO winning the league, Roja Kola is highly likely to be crowned player of the season.
- PHIRI MOSES (ZANACO)
ZANACO has this season expounded some demonstration of weaponry and attacking firepower wrapped in killer football intrigue and Moses Phiri has been ruthless.
He was second on this list the last time we published it but some breathtaking work rate and ground coverage coupled with a stellar display in National colors against Algeria power him above Roja Kola. It has been a phenomenal run for the ZANACO forward and a few more captivating displays and goals and he be crowned Player of the year.
